A POLICE officer was injured while attempting to arrest a man who was inspected of indecent exposure.

He was one of three officers from Essex Police hurt in incidents during the past 24 hours and sustained cuts to his elbow, hand and knee when called to the scene in West Thurrock.

A 28 year-old man was arrested yesterday afternoon (Thursday, 28 May) on suspicion of indecent exposure and assaulting an emergency worker and is currently in custody.

Then, yesterday evening, officers attended an address in Gypsy Lane, Little Dunmow following reports of a man acting aggressively and a caravan being damaged.

As officers were carrying out an arrest, one reported he was kicked to the head.

A 39 year-old man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, assaulting an emergency worker, and using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm, and distress.

He has since been released under investigation.

In the early hours of this morning it was reported an officer had been struck to the head with a metal pole after attending an address in Park Lane, Southend.

"Assaults on officers are unacceptable"

A 29 year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of GBH and is currently in custody.

Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan said: "Assaults on officers are unacceptable and we will take action against those responsible. No-one should expect to come to work to be abused or assaulted and police officers are no different.

"Police officers are human beings. They're your neighbours, they're the people you see in the supermarket and those you see in the park with their kids.

"When they're assaulted it can have a huge impact on them and their families. And if they're seriously injured, it could mean one less officer out there to catch criminals and keep you safe.

"Our officers are incredibly brave and dedicated and in the vast majority of cases are back on shift the very same day.

"We have a robust a thorough network of support in place to help officers both physically and mentally when they're assaulted and work with the Police Federation to ensure officers have everything they need to recover from these incidents."